Device for teaching sculpturing

ABSTRACT

A device for teaching sculpturing including a block of material on plural surfaces of which are printed topographical representations of a figure to be sculpted; the topographical representation is in the form of areas having the projected shape of portions of the figure at particular elevations from a datum, with the areas representing the same elevation having similar indicating means, such as numbers, letters or colors. A set of sculpturing tools is provided, with a coding indication correlated to the indicating means on the areas of the block.

United States Patent 191 I [111 3,826,020 Zutz 1 July 30,1974

[ DEVICE FOR TEACHING SCULPTURING Clay-Adams Catalog No. 105, 1953, page 93 only.

[76] Inventor: Joseph Zutz, 1447 S. Holt Ave., Los

Angeles, Calif. 90035 Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogqurst Filed p 24 1970 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Irvin A. Lavine [2|] Appl. No.: 75,004 [57] ABSTRACT A device for teaching sculpturing including a block of ((51. material on plural Surfaces of which are primed p graphical representations of a figure to be Sculpted; [58] Field of Search 35/26,4l, 142/42, 56 the topographical representation is in the form of areas having the projected shape of portions of the fig- [56] References cued ure at particular elevations from a datum, with the UNITED STATES PATENTS areas representing the same elevation having similar 1,469,554 l0/l923 Crowder 35/26 UX indicating means, such as numbers, letters or colors. A

39 7/1955 Grossma" 35/26 X set of sculpturing tools is provided, with a coding indi- 2,337,791 5/1959 35/4' cation correlated to the indicating means on the areas 3,] 23,9 l9 3/l964 MCEldOl' 35/26 of the block 3,301,725 H1967 Frontera 35/26 X I OTHER PUBLICATIONS I Chapman, Cartoon in Washington Daily News, Sept. 8, 1960, page 2.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEu mama INVENTQR JOSEPH ZUTZ B 726, 6202 04: 7?eicfi ATTORNEYS 1 DEVICE FOR TEACHING SCULl-TURING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a device for aiding in the teaching of sculpturing.

Sculpturing has long been recognized as being a diffia cult and abstract art. Typically, a block or mass of ma-. terial is selected from which a chosen figure is to be sculpted. This is accomplished by removing these portions of the mass or block which are extraneous to the sculpted figure which is to be obtained. Initially, relatively large chips or portions of the mass are removed, and as the sculptor approaches the figure which is to be freed from the block, smaller and finer chips are re.-

moved. until eve tually t e cu p ed objec igure is left. Thereafter, finishing, such as cleaning, sanding, poli hing. paint ng. tin ng. and/or antiquing. and i g eps are used t produ the inal sculpt d art work. i v

For beginners, the sculpting of a figure is most diffi= cult, because the beginner has great difficulty in envi: sioning the figure to be sculptedand its position within e ock relative to the exterio su face of the block at any given time. As a consequence, portions of the mass or l c a o en removed by the egi ner. who e eafter finds that he has. to hi dismay. made an error which is often impossible to correct.

There ha been previous attempts mad to as ist the beg nning sculptor in removing the ext aneous po tions of the mass or block. Typically. these have comprised a figur ounded with a lurality of layers of material l a le of being ca ved o cut way- These layers have b n made of ariou mater al such as was and y. and d ffere t layers have b en given different colorings. In addition, it has been suggested that. with such a s u ptu g a o e or m e surface of the basic block there may be provided an outline of one or more of the layers or coatings; this was provided merely in de to ugges to the sculp or the shape of the coat ings adjacent the surface on which the outline was placed.

Such known sculpturing aids are so rudimentary that much of the challenge found in the art of sculpturing is eliminated, with consequent elimination of a significant teaching or learning function. In additionrsuch aids have been relatively expensive to produce, requiring a number of successive dippings or coatings of dife to e materials in order to provide the successive layers which form the gist of tho e sculpturing aids.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The p esent inve ti n sculpture tea hing device comprises a block or mass of material having on one or more of the exposed surfaces thereof a topographical p ntat n of the figure t be sculpted. This topographical representation may he, for example, printed on the surface of the block, and defines a plurality of areas, each of which represents the shape of a portion of the figure to be sculpted, which shape has a portion lar e evation relat to some da um p ane. in additi n. each of the areas is provided with a suitable indicator, such as a number or a color, to readily differentiate one area from the other. A set of seulpturing tools is also provided, with indications thereon correlated to the indications on the topographical representation. By this arrangement, a student sculptor is guided in selecting the tool to be used in each specific cutting area, and is ther y intrinsically taugh the use of the appropriate tools. A

A pa t cula ck or mass in acc rdance with the present invention may be of generally parrallelepipedal shape, and the topographical representations may be placed On five sides thereof. Alternatively, where a has re e igure is to be achi ved. a flat mass ay be utilized, with the topographical representation provided only on one broad surface thereof. While reference has been had to numbers an colo s. t will be understood that othe ndicators may e used. such as line bols. nam t nts or half tones- Among the objects f the present invention are t provide culpturing teaching de ce which will assist a beginning sculptor in sculpting a f gu e from a mass or o k; which will provide o he mass or block. rep resentat ons for assisting in visua izi g the figure to be culpt d. for p id ng repre entations of a figure to be sculpted wh c will be readily understoo y a beginner. and which will pr vide inherent guidance and learning funct ons to the beginning culpto in add tion. objects of the pres nt nvention includ the proviion of a de ice fo teaching sculpturing which will also teach the selection of appropriate tools. and which will be economical to abr cate- BRIEF DESCRIPTlQN OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective v ew of a teaching device in accordance with the present nvention.

Fifi. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Flti- 3 is a perspecti e view o a e of sculpting tools.

DESRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Re er ing now to the drawings. wherein lik or corresponding reference numerals designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views. there is shown. in FIG 1 a perspecti e view of a sculpture teaching d vic in accordance w th the present invention. The device. ge erally designated 10. includes a block 12 mounted upon a base 14. Within the block 1 and adjacent the base 14 there is illustrated a figure which i to be partially sculpted. as a has relief-Gen ally speak ng. t e figu e. de gnated 16. is of a. four legged igu e ee a so FIG. 2) with a baloon or the like attached'to it by a string. The figure 16 may e a pure y imaginary figure which is to be freed" from the'block 1.2,. by t e rem val of excess material, in which. case th igure 16 is entire y imag nary and is in no way different from or distinct fr m the extraneou mass of the bl ck 12-. in that ca the block 12 will be en irely homog neou A ternatively, the block or mass 12 may be made o tw different. parts. a f r example firs provid ing the figure 16 in has relief. of one. material. and then casting or otherwise forming the remainde of th lock: 12 n and around the gure 16.

By way o example. the igure 16 may be initially ca t of a relative y hard material, or of. a material of a part cular color. Then th extrane us material which is to b removed during the culpturing p ation may be cast on and around a. sculpture figure 1.6, and this material may e a relative y softer material. or materia of a differen colo xamples of mate als which may be used are a ha d. high density polyu ethane foam and the t aneous mat ial may be a s fter. l w density p yur thane foam. Also, as will be understood, the extraneous part may first be formed, and then the figure may be moulded into the upper extraneous part by injection moulding, vacuum moulding or centrifugal moulding. In addition, the figure 16 can be initially cast from polyester resin, fibre glass, hydrocal, wax or hard plastaline clay and the material of block 12 to be removed can be made of polyurethane, polystyrene, micro-balloons, plaster, wax or soft plastaline clay.

Whichever of the two above discussed forms the block 12 may take, that is either homogenous or nonhomogenous, there is provided on at least one surface thereof a topographical representation of the figure 16, this being designated 18 in FIG. 1. The topographical representation 18 is preferably printed, and several topographical representations are provided on several different surfaces, in the preferred form of the invention. However, for purposes of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, the topographical representation 18 is shown only on the upper surface of the block 12.

Preferably, the topographical representation 18 is printed on the upper surface, although other methods of providing this topographical representation may be utilized.

Referring now to H0. 2, there may be seen the topographical representation 18. In essence, representation 18 comprises a plurality of areas bounded by generally curved lines. Each of these areas represents the shape of a portion of the figure 16 having a particular elevation relative to, for example, a datum plane provided by the upper surface of the base 14. Areas of representation 18 which represent portions at the same elevation are designated by the same indicators. As shown in FIG. 2, these areas are numbered. Consequently, the student, upon examining the sculpture teaching device and particularly topographical representation 18 will understand that the lower numbers indicate those portions at the highest elevations relative to the datum plane, and the higher numbers represent those areas closer to the datum plane, the representation being, of course, arbitrarily chosen. The important symbolism is that the areas designated by the reference numeral l are located, for instance, adjacent the knee and elbow of the figure to be sculpted, and are therefore those portions furtherest removed from the datum plane.

While the indicators shown in FIG. 1 are numerals, it will be understood that another indicating system may be used. Instead of numerals, letters, names, colors, tints, half tones or hatchure lines may be used.

Also, there may be provided on the representation 18, hatchures for indicating elevations of the figure to be sculpted. These hatchures will take the form of lines of different lengths and widths, running in the direction of the slope of that portion of the figure which is represented thereby. These lines may be long, narrow and far apart for a gentle slope and shorter, thicker and closer for a steeper slope.

With whatever indicator system is used, it will be understood that the topographical areas will serve as a guide to the student sculptor. Initially, the student sculptor may wish simply to leave his sculpture in the form comprising a plurality of planes, leaving the finishing into more conventional form until he has gained greater skill. Later on, when he has gained more skill, he will be able to finish the figure to suit his own artistic tastes and/or preferences.

' Referring now to H6. 3,'there is shown a set of sculpturing tools, generally designated 20, each of which is provided with an indicator corresponding to the indicators of the topographic representation 18. This will serve as a guide to the student sculptor in the selection of the appropriate tool to use, for removing extraneous material from the mass or block 12 in order to free the figure 16. Broad tools will be used for large chips removal, and finer tools for more detailed chip removal.

Additionally, there may be provided a guide for the student sculptor, in the form of independent drawing(s), identical to the topographical representation(s) provided on the mass or block. In this way, even after portions have been removed from the basic sculpturing block 12, the student sculptor will be able to have a reference which will enable him to visualize the figure which is to be sculpted.

By the present invention sculpturing teaching device, a student sculptor is provided with guidance in executing a sculpture,'which will enable him to produce a sculpted free standing or has relief figure, while at the same time instructing him and increasing his skills. The device of the present invention may be economically produced. The present invention also provides guidance in tool selection to the beginning sculptor. This invention will also be seen to help to establish in the mind of the student a procedural approach and mental attitude toward mass in relation to sculpture.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for teaching sculpturing comprising a block of material having on at least one surface thereof a topographical representation of a figure to be sculpted from said block,

said topographical representation comprising a plurality of areas each representing the shape of a portion of the said figure to be sculpted having a particular elevation relative to a datum,

and indicating means on said topographical representation for indicating the elevation represented by each of said areas.

2. The teaching device of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising numerals individual to each elevation.

3. The teaching device of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising colors individual to each elevation.

tation on a broad surface thereof. 

1. A device for teaching sculpturing comprising a block of material having on at least one surface thereof a topographical representation of a figure to be sculpted from said block, said topographical representation comprising a plurality of areas each representing the shape of a portion of the said figure to be sculpted having a particular elevation relative to a datum, and indicating means on said topographical representation for indicating the elevation represented by each of said areas.
 2. The teaching device of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising numerals individual to each elevation.
 3. The teaching device of claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising colors individual to each elevation.
 4. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a set of sculpturing tools having different sizes and shapes, and indicating means on each said tool corresponding to the indicating means on each said area of said topographic representation.
 5. The teaching device of claim 1, said block being parallelipipedal and having topographical representations on plural surfaces thereof.
 6. The teaching device of claim 1, said block being generally flat and having a said topographical representation on a broad surface thereof. 